The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-14
The Sunday School.
LESSON FOR MAY %, 1887.
BY REV. ROBERT L. POLK.
THE PASSOVER.
Exodus xii. 1-15.]
THE SIGN.
Exodus xii. 1-15.]

Our last Lesson closed with the Divine
call to Moses to go unto Pharaoh and bring
forth the children of Israel out of Egypt tc
worship in Horeb, "the mount of GoD," and
the promise that COP would be with him
which should be a sign (token) that COP had
sent him. Whatever may be the proper rhe-
torical and grammatical construction of the
language containing these statements, some
marvellous work which no man can do sex
cept GoD be with him." was TO be the token
by which it should be certainly known that
GoD sent Moses, His servant, to deliver His
people,-the heirs of promise made 10 their
fathers. In the history of our religion and
the Divine revelation contained in the Bible,
there are three we'll defined wonder working
epochs. These mark the giving of the Law,
and the introduction of the Prophets and the
Gospels. The miracles of the Bible are
grouped around Moses, Elijah and JESUS.
These were The signs which accredited these
great prophets of COP, who introduced the
three great dispensations of His reign and
kingdom in the earth as the Ruler of nations
and Father of mankind.
Moses returned to Egypt, having probably
learned through Aaron who visited him in
"the Wilderness" of the continued distress
of his people; and having been assured that
all who sought his life, including the king,
were now dead, he had communicated to
Aaron, his elder brother, all that he had ex-
perienced in the now sacred mount, and as
ISOLATED him with himself in his mission to
deliver his people. The "elders," represent
atives of the Israelites, were assembled. to
whom the Divine mission of Moses, their de-
liverer, was declared, and the signs by which
he should be divinely accredited were pub
licly wrought. When they heard and saw, "the
people believed and bowed their heads and
worshiped" Gv. 81. Moses was now accepted
by the people as one sent by COP to deliver
them from their Affections. Moses and
Aaron, with delegation of elders, next ap
pear before the king with petition that the
Israelites be permitted to go three days
journey into the wilderness to worship their
COP, who, they feared, might aff1ict them
with some great evil-with pestilence or war
". 81. [Who the ruling king was we are
unable to determine. Either Thotmes H.,
the grandson of Amosis, or Menephtah, the
son and successor of Rameses the Great, Is
most probable. See Studies May l, 81 The
king not only refused TO grant the petitions,
bat in anger increased the burdens of the
people. By this the people we're disheartened.
Moses was now authorized to manifest the
power of COP by "signs" that would reas-
sure the people and make Pharaoh willing
that they should go out of the land with all
their possessions. These "tokens of the
Divine Presence with Moses and the Israel
ties were "ten plaques that successfully
and in aggravated form afflicted the Egypt
ians, and by which the Israelites were not
greatly distressed. They were 1. The Nile
water ''turned to Blood" 2. Frogs; 3. Lice;
4. Flies; 5. Murrain upon cattle; 6. Boils; z.
Hail; s. Locusts; 8. Darkness; 10. Death OF
the firstborn. Commentators have noticed
that the plaques were not marvellous as to
their character, but we're such, occurring
under the circumstances narrated, and en-
ployed in the mission of Moses and ministry
of Aaron, as would prove the power and pur
pose of the Almighty and Ever Living GoD,
in whose name Pharaoh was asked to let the
Israelites go, and they were announced.
The successive visitations of pestilence and
plague increased the faith and hope of the
Israelites in their deliverer, and caused the
Egyptians to favor their departure from the
land. But Pharaoh was stubborn and his
heart was hardened by the pestilent vista
tons; and not till the frstborn of his own
household was dead before his eyes, would
he consent to let the Israelites go, according
to the demand of Moses in the name of JE-
HovAH their COP. The claim of Cop to
Israel is founded in the relation which is the
key to the whole history of the Hebrew ma
ton "Israel is my son, even my firstborn;'
and Pharaoh's obstinate resolution to keep
in slavery a people whom GoD had chosen to
be free and independent nation, was met
from the first with the threat, " will slay
thy son, even thy frst-born." (iv. 22, 23).
Our Lesson is an account of the prepara-
ton of Israel for their speedy departure out
of the land when Pharaoh should command
them to go. The last and effectual token of
the Divine power and favor WITH Moses was
now to be wrought, and the people were
made "wilIing in the day of His power"